Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
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Metadiscourse markers in L2 source-based informative essays: An analysis of texts written by L2 undergraduate students
Full text linkImproving writing skills is considered essential for L2 students, especially in academic settings, reflecting part of the overall language proficiency (Teng et al., 2022). L2 writing complexity, influenced by internal and external factors, inspires the use of metadiscourse markers as valuable tools for self-reflection and communication (Casanave, 2017; Teng & Zhang, 2018; Hyland, 2004). Prior research has explored metadiscourse markers in L1 writing, contributing to proficiency improvements (Aull, 2019; Hong & Cao, 2014; Yoon, 2021; Lee & Deakin, 2016), within college students’ writing (Bax et al., 2019; Huh & Lee, 2016; Ramoroka, 2017), graduate theses and dissertations (Hussein et al., 2018; Ozdemir & Longo, 2014), and research articles and book reviews (Abdi, 2011; Gillaerts & Van de Velde, 2010). However, there is a limited examination of how these markers function in L2 college students’ source-based type of writing. This study, based on Hyland’s framework (2005), analyzes data from L2 college students’ informative source-based writing. Particularly, I will look at a total of 36 L2 informative, source-based, First-year writing program essays, with 16 essays in the higher-rated category (5258 words) and 20 essays in the lower-rated category (5169 words), collected from L2 students within the First-year Composition programs from two universities in the US. The essays were analyzed by a computerized program to produce comprehensive concordance lists of markers alongside essential information about the prompts and the authors, enabling analyses to explore the diversity distribution and specific functions that metadiscourse markers serve in these essays. The findings reveal that higher-rated essays displayed a broader spectrum of metadiscourse features, fostering connections within essays and enhancing communication with readers. Furthermore, while engagement markers, particularly imperative directive features, were preferred by students from both proficiency groups to establish a direct relationship with readers, various subtypes of hedges and boosters also stand out, especially in a higher-rated group, as productive tools for expressing specific shades of certainty and commitment. Lastly, highly frequent usage of self-mentions in lower-rated essays can signal students’ preference towards expressing ideas from personal perspectives and possible struggles in critically synthesizing source texts into statements. In summary, understanding metadiscourse markers used in L2 writing helps students with tools to enhance writing communication, provide insights for teachers in improving teaching approaches, and inspire further scholarly discourse.EnglishCollege of Liberal Art
Mapping oyster habitat quality in Matagorda Bay through remote sensing-derived water quality datasets
Full text linkEvaluating oyster habitat quality is gaining importance as populations face drastic global declines. Oyster Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) models evaluate habitat quality. Environmental and water quality indicators (WQIs) generate these oyster HSIs. In this study, we extracted WQIs from remote sensing data from 2014 to 2023 (Chapter II), then utilized these WQIs alongside other physical variables to produce five oyster HSI models for Matagorda Bay (Chapter III). These oyster HSIs generated used salinity, turbidity, temperature, depth, and water velocity to depict habitat quality. Remote sensing datasets offer a unique opportunity to observe spatial and temporal trends in WQIs, such as chlorophyll-a, salinity, and turbidity, across various aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we used available in-situ WQI measurements (chlorophyll-a: 17, salinity: 478, and turbidity: 173) along with Landsat-8 surface reflectance data to examine the capability of empirical and machine learning (ML) models in retrieving these indicators over Matagorda Bay, Texas, between 2014 and 2023. Models with greatest performance were applied to generate datasets for each WQI from 2018 to 2023. Five oyster HSI models were then generated over Matagorda Bay on both monthly and annual scales from 2018 to 2023. Each model utilized five physical parameters (e.g., model inputs), including salinity, turbidity, water temperature, depth, and water velocity. The developed approach provides a reference context, a structured framework, and valuable insights for utilizing empirical and ML models and Landsat-8 data to retrieve WQIs over aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, oyster HSI models generated from this study suggests locations of optimal, moderate, and unsuitable habitat based on long-term water quality in Matagorda Bay.Physical and Environmental SciencesCollege of Scienc
How to find truth online
Full text linkThis textbook is intended to be used as a guide or an instruction manual on the path to finding the truth. As such, it can be useful either in the classroom or in everyday life, as a helpful guidebook for use during your search for the truth online. This book is written in a way the allows for the reading of the entire volume, and I encourage you to read it in its entirety, although it can be read and applied in sections as well. The sections and assignments within each chapter are designed to be useful either in the order they are written, or they can be utilized as individual exercises or assessments to practice finding the truth online. In this book, we look at mass communication theory and apply examples from throughout history, to walk through how to search, find and hold on to truthful information found in the online realm. In the dizzying maze of online information today, it can be daunting to know where to look for the truth online and how to find and recognize truthful information. First though, I want to note that this book may not be for everyone. It is for everyone who wants to know the truth, but sadly, everyone may not want to know the truth. Or perhaps some people may not want the truth to be known by others. There are many who seem to not want the truth about a specific issue or topic to be known by others. But I would ask, is there anyone who actually does not want to know the truth for themselves? I have yet to find someone who regularly wants to be deceived or persuaded without knowing it. There are those who would like someone to lie to them (at least temporarily) about such temporal matters as how that dress looks on them, or whether they look their age, or whether their favorite team is projected to win the championship, or whether they passed that exam… we have probably all had moments when we want to cover our ears and exclaim “No, don’t tell me!” or when we want to hear what we wish was true, “Sure, tell me what I want to hear.” But in the end, we are not likely to want to continue being deceived unless we choose to, and only when we choose to go without the truth. We want to have the option of hearing the truth if or when we want to, and in my experience it seems that most people want to have the option of access to the truth (at least for most topics). I have noticed an inconsistency among those seeking truth: some people who do not want others to know the truth, still want to have access to the truth for themselves. It seems that people feel it is their personal right to have access to the truth, whether or not they want others to also have access to the truth. The Golden Rule, “Do to others what you would have them do to you,” is a good practice to live by. Do you want to have access to the truth? Then allow others to have access also. Do you want to be able to seek out the truth by hearing both sides of a debate? Then allow others to have that access to the truth as well
Advanced computer architecture
No full textInstruction pipelines: Processors execute instructions in a sequence of steps fetch, decode, execute, write back. In-Order Execution: Instructions progress through the pipeline one at a time, waiting for the previous instruction to finish before starting. Out-of-Order Execution: Instructions can be issued, executed, and completed out-of-order as long as there are no dependencies
Senator Carlos F. Truan onstage at event for Dukakis
No full textSenator Truan onstage at campaign event behind podium with a sign that reads: "Texans for Dukakis"
Analysing micro- and nanoplastics with cutting-edge infrared spectroscopy techniques: A critical review
No full textThe escalating prominence of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) as emerging anthropogenic pollutants has sparked widespread scientific and public interest. These minuscule particles pervade the global environment, permeating drinking water and food sources, prompting concerns regarding their environmental impacts and potential risks to human health. In recent years, the field of MNP research has witnessed the development and application of cutting-edge infrared (IR) spectroscopic instruments. This review focuses on the recent application of advanced IR spectroscopic techniques and relevant instrumentation to analyse MNPs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted, encompassing articles published within the past three years. The findings revealed that Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy stands as the most used technique, with focal plane array FTIR (FPA-FTIR) representing the cutting edge in FTIR spectroscopy. The second most popular technique is quantum cascade laser infrared (QCL-IR) spectroscopy, which has facilitated rapid analysis of plastic particles. Following closely is optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy, which can furnish submicron spatial resolution. Subsequently, there is atomic force microscopy-based infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy, which has made it feasible to analyse MNPs at the nanoscale level. The most advanced IR instruments identified in articles covered in this review were compared. Comparison metrics encompass substrates/filters, data quality, spatial resolution, data acquisition speed, data processing and cost. The limitations of these IR instruments were identified, and recommendations to address these limitations were proposed. The findings of this review offer valuable guidance to MNP researchers in selecting suitable instrumentation for their research experiments, thereby facilitating advancements in research aimed at enhancing our understanding of the environmental and human health risks associated with MNPs.Funding for this research was provided by the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-Irish Research Council Pathway Programme Proposal ID 21/PATH-S/9290
Senator Truan with family
No full textSenator Truan and wife Elvira pose with their children in front of the Texas State Capitol
Mathematics education researchers’ practices in interdisciplinary collaborations: Embracing different ways of knowing
No full textMathematics education researchers (MERs) use practices unique to the mathematics education discipline to conduct their work. MERs’ practices, i.e., ways of being, interacting, and operating, define the field of mathematics education, are initially learned in doctoral preparation programs, and are encouraged and sanctioned by conferences and publications. Disciplinary practices facilitate MERs’ interactions within mathematics education. When working in interdisciplinary groups, differences in disciplinary ways of being, interacting, and operating can create challenges with completing research and other work. Since MERs’ engagement in interdisciplinary collaborations is encouraged and can result in products contributing to the evolution of the mathematics education discipline, it is important to explore what practices MERs use in interdisciplinary collaborations. We interviewed four MERs who led international interdisciplinary collaborations and used qualitative content analysis to create descriptions of practices described by MERs in their collaborations. Five practices were common between the MERs in interdisciplinary collaborations. MERs conducted interdisciplinary work by using practices that allowed them to situate themselves and others in the group (i.e., being practices), develop ideas (i.e., interacting practices), work towards common goals, and use structures to get the work done (i.e., operating practices). We argue that MERs developed new practices to position themselves and others, interact with practitioners from other disciplines, and get interdisciplinary work done. This study contributes to the evolution of the mathematics education discipline by offering five practices that can orient MERs to conducting interdisciplinary work and discussing how MERs experience interdisciplinary collaborations beyond providing mathematics education expertise
Spatial distribution and movement of Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) in the northern Gulf of Mexico
No full textAtlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) are capable of long-distance migrations (hundreds of
kilometers) but also exhibit resident behaviors in estuarine and coastal habitats. The aim of
this study was to characterize the spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon and identify migration
pathways of adult tarpon in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Spatial distribution of juvenile tarpon
was investigated using gillnet data collected by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) over the past four decades. Generalized additive models (GAMs) indicated that
salinity and water temperature played a significant role in tarpon presence, with tarpon
occurrences peaking in the fall and increasing over the past four decades in this region.
Adult tarpon caught off Texas (n = 40) and Louisiana (n = 4) were tagged with acoustic transmitters
to characterize spatial and temporal trends in their movements and migrations. Of
the 44 acoustic transmitters deployed, 18 of the individuals were detected (n = 16 west of
the Mississippi River Delta and n = 2 east of the Mississippi River Delta). Tarpon tagged
west of the Mississippi River Delta off Texas migrated south in the fall and winter into areas
of south Texas and potentially into Mexico, while individuals tagged east of the delta
migrated into Florida during the same time period, suggesting the presence of two unique
migratory contingents or subpopulations in this region. An improved understanding of the
habitat requirements and migratory patterns of tarpon inhabiting the Gulf of Mexico is critically
needed by resource managers to assess the vulnerability of each contingent to fishing
pressure, and this information will guide multi-state and multi-national conservation efforts
to rebuild and sustain tarpon populations
Simplified indoor localization using Bluetooth beacons and received signal strength fingerprinting with smartwatch
No full textVariations in Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) have been used for tracking users’ locations.
However, when location tracking is needed for an indoor space, such as a house or building, then an alternative means of precise position tracking may be required because GPS signals can be severely attenuated or completely blocked. In our approach to indoor positioning, we developed an indoor localization system that minimizes the amount of effort and cost needed by the end user to put the system to use. This indoor localization system detects the user’s room-level location within a house or indoor space in which the system has been installed. We combine the use of Bluetooth Low Energy beacons and a smartwatch Bluetooth scanner to determine which room the user is located in. Our system has been developed specifically to create a low-complexity localization system using the Nearest Neighbor algorithm and a moving average filter to improve results. We evaluated our system across a household under two different operating conditions: first, using three rooms in the house, and then using five rooms. The system was able to achieve an overall accuracy of 85.9% when testing in three rooms and 92.106% across five rooms. Accuracy also varied by region, with most of the regions performing above 96% accuracy, and most false-positive incidents occurring within transitory areas between regions. By reducing the amount of processing used by our approach, the end-user is able to use other applications and services on the smartwatch concurrently.The authors thank the Open Access Publication Fund provided by the Mary and Jeff Bell Library at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. This research was partially funded by the University Research Enhancement Grant from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi